Zinedine Zidane ‘envisages nothing else than the France job’ as his next challenge and is ‘prepared to wait’ with Didier Deschamps staying on until at least next year’s World Cup despite Euro 2020 disappointment
Zinedine Zidane ‘wants to coach the France national team’ as his next challenge – but will have to wait with Didier Deschamps staying on until at least next year’s World Cup.
The former Real Madrid coach is the strong favourite to replace Deschamps when his time in charge of Les Bleus finally comes to an end.
Reports in France say Zidane ‘envisages almost nothing else than a job in charge of the national team’ but knows he will have to be patient.
Zinedine Zidane ‘envisages no other challenge than the France national team job’ but will have to be patient with Didier Deschamps staying on in the post until next year’s World Cup
Deschamps is continuing in his post despite the disappointment of exiting Euro 2020 early
French sports newspaper L’Equipe report that Zidane ‘wants the France national team job’ and is ‘prepared to wait’ for the vacancy to come up
It comes as it was confirmed Deschamps will lead the team in their World Cup defence in Qatar next year despite their disappointing early exit to Switzerland at Euro 2020.
France were considered favourites to add the European Championship to their world crown but lost 5-4 on penalties after a 3-3 draw in the last-16.
The defeat led to calls for Zidane, whose second spell at Real Madrid ended in May, to replace Deschamps.
But following a meeting with French Football Federation president Noel Le Graet on Wednesday, Deschamps will be staying on a little longer.
France lost on penalties to Switzerland in the last-16 as the Euro 2020 favourites crashed out
A row involving Paul Pogba (left), Raphael Varane (centre) and Benjamin Pavard had broken out amid discord in the camp
Asked if Deschamps would be in charge at next year’s World Cup, Le Graet said: ‘The answer is yes.
‘We met on Wednesday and resolved it in three minutes. His desire to continue is strong and so is mine. There was no debate.’
So Zidane, 49, will have to wait at least another year but reports in L’Equipe suggest he will wait for the national team vacancy to arise.
Zidane won the Champions League three times during his first spell as Real Madrid manager
Deschamps, who started the job in 2012 and is France’s longest-serving boss, will see out the rest of his contract, which expired in December next year after the Qatar World Cup.
Zidane, who scored 31 goals in 108 matches for France as a player and won the World Cup in 1998, would be a strong candidate following his success with Real.
He won three consecutive Champions League titles during his first spell and claimed the LaLiga title in 2019-20 during his second stint.
